In a recent series of events, Rahul Gandhi, a prominent leader of the Indian National Congress, has once again accused the Election Commission of India (ECI) of colluding with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to manipulate voter lists and rig elections. These allegations have been met with strong rebuttals from the Election Commission, which has dismissed them as "baseless" and "irresponsible".
Gandhi's accusations center around alleged discrepancies in voter data, including the presence of duplicate and fake voters, as well as manipulated voter lists. He claims to possess concrete evidence of these irregularities, pointing to specific instances in constituencies like Bangalore Central and alleging that similar issues exist in Maharashtra and Karnataka. He has gone so far as to say that the 2024 Lok Sabha elections were rigged and that the Congress suspects manipulation in 70 to 100 seats. Gandhi also alleges that the ECI is deliberately obstructing access to electronic voter lists, forcing his party to rely on paper lists that are difficult to scan and analyze. He stated that in one constituency, his party found that out of 6.5 lakh voters, 1.5 lakh were fake.
The Election Commission has vehemently denied these allegations, asserting its commitment to conducting free and fair elections. The ECI stated that it had sent communications to Gandhi in June, inviting him to discuss his concerns regarding voter rolls, but received no response. The poll body has urged its officials to disregard such "irresponsible statements" and continue working with impartiality and transparency. The ECI has also refuted claims of obstructing access to voter lists, clarifying that electoral rolls are publicly available and were provided to all contesting candidates.
These accusations and counter-accusations have sparked a significant political controversy, with the BJP accusing Gandhi of undermining the credibility of the Election Commission, a vital constitutional institution. The controversy has also extended to the state level, with allegations of voter roll manipulation in Karnataka leading to protests and counter-protests by the Congress and BJP.
The implications of these allegations are far-reaching, potentially impacting public trust in the electoral process and raising questions about the independence and impartiality of the Election Commission. With the ECI maintaining its stance and urging its staff to continue their duties without fear, the situation remains tense. The Supreme Court has also weighed in, further adding to the gravity of the situation. The accusations made by Gandhi and the strong rebuttals from the ECI highlight the deep-seated political tensions surrounding the electoral process in India.